Valentine’s Weekend ~Here’s My Report ~It All Started with a Lovely Dinner Party

It was a wonderful weekend to celebrate love.

We were invited to a Dinner Party with

our Friday Night Friends.

We get together every Friday to celebrate the weekend.

We are all retired, empty nester couples...

all of our children and grandchildren live far away.

Our hostess, Wendy set a lovely table.

The red heart doilies under our salad bowls stole my heart.

Here we are...the Galentines.

We all know that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

Wendy worked all afternoon on her Bolognase Sauce.

She kept it warm in her crockpot.

Charlotte prepared her Olive Cheese French Bread.

And Patty tossed her Salad with homemade dressing.

My assignment was dessert.

I made a Chocolate Ribbon Cheesecake

with a Strawberry Garnish.

Here’s my recipe if you are interested.

Here are our Valentines.

A gift from the heart...

There isn’t anything better than that.

This came to me in the mail this week

from my long time college friend, Debra.

I love, love, love, getting something in the mail

besides bills and junk.

“Much too good for Children”

Who else remembers this quote by Mrs. Trunchbull on Matilda?

Sending love over the miles.

Guess which card is from our grandson, Jack.

Of course, Hubby treats me like a Queen.

His coffee-themed card, a new mug, and a Starbucks gift card

came together to be the perfect Valentine.

I mean, here’s the bottom of my new mug!

So...our Valentine’s Day lives on with these chocolates.

You all remember those Crystal Candy Dishes on my table?

Hubby’s favorite candy on the left,

My favorite candy on the right,

And something for everyone in the center.

Take care,

~Natalie

Things in Our House Thursday ~The Little Things that Make Me Smile ~Valentine Hearts

Last month I traded out my Santas for Snowmen.

Here in the Dakotas,

they can stay out on display until Spring Break.

Many of them are adorned with Hearts for Valentines Day.

This tree on my bathroom vanity,

that  lights the way when I get up in the night,

is also decked out for Valentines Day.

This alone makes me smile!

This is the box where I store my Sweet Valentine Stuff...

cards from my Hubby and our Daughters,

along with some little craft projects we created together.

My Valentines Mugs that were gifts from years ago.

Heart Shaped Crystal Candy Dishes...

... prompted a trip to Target to purchase

cute Heart Sharped Chocolates.

These angels have been on our work table...

Now ready for a new forever home.

Hello, Dolly.

Sending you love and smiles.

Give Thanks for all of life’s blessings.

Take care,

~Natalie

Tuesday Tip of the Day ~How to Make a Heart Shaped Cake ~When Hubby and I Celebrated Our First Valentines Day Together

Yes, that is me, on Valentines Day, four decades ago.

In the 80’s, my hair was styled

with a curly perm, and I had contacts.

(You’ll need to scroll down to see my hubby.)

For dinner, I had prepared a Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza,

cause that was his favorite food.

And a Red Velvet Heart Shaped Cake.

I had posted this to our recipe blog, five years ago.

There’s no need to purchase a special heart shaped cake pan.

You can read the directions and special tips on that post.

Who else had that Betty Crocker Boys and Girls Cookbook

when you were growing up?

It is easy to put the heart together

and you can decorate it for your Valentine,

or for Mother’s Day like in the photo.

Speaking of my Valentine, here he is.

He brought a bottle of bubbly and the long stem red rose.

Make plans to spend the evening with someone you love.

Take care,

~Natalie

What’cha Workin’ on Wednesday ~Here’s my Full Report ~Etsy Creations ~Comfort Food ~Date Night ~Cat and Mouse

When you purchase a handmade item on Etsy,

there is an artist somewhere doing a happy dance!

I package my sales wrapped in tissue,

with a handwritten note, and a token of my appreciation.

This week, I wrapped this sweet Wooden Angel on the left

and sent her off to New Jersey.

On my work table, her shorter and wider sister,

waiting for her eyes and her halo.

Hubby doesn’t know it yet,

but that sale was the last tall, skinny, hanging angel in our inventory,

So I have the pattern out and ready for him

to take out to his workshop this weekend.

You remember we finished our Wooden Hearts

and I now have them listed in our Tins and Treasures Etsy Shop.

While I am creating, Lizzie is busy protecting her Hut

and keeping all of her rodents in check.

When I need a comfort food for lunch,

I make an Egg Salad Sandwich.

I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere.

Once a week, my mother and I would go into town.

I had a piano lesson, we shopped for necessities,

and we’d share an Egg Salad Sandwich

and a slice of Lemon Meringue Pie.

It was January 29th, seven years ago,

when I received the phone call that my mother had fallen,

and fractured her hip.

I am happy that I have those good memories

of Egg Salad Sandwiches and Lemon Meringue Pie.

After my lunch, I took that Etsy package to the USPS

and then stopped at my favorite supermarket.

Their sale ad has everything you need

to prepare all of your favorite football foods.

Plus, when you purchase groceries there

you can earn Pump Perks points.

Some of my points were expiring the end of January,

so Hubby invited me out to gas up his big pickup...

...and then to Burger Night at the Circus.

You all have your favorite Dive Bar, right?

This..is their entire kitchen.

On the left is their grill, and the fryers.

This is the Sous Chef setting up the baskets

to deliver all that deliciousness to their patrons.

Meanwhile, on the Homefront, Lizzie and her new mouse were

soaking up the heat on their favorite rug by the register.

Life is good.

Take care,

~Natalie

What’cha Workin’ on Wednesday ~On the Work Bench ~Morning Outing with My BFF

This rustic wooden heart has been

one of the best sellers in our

Tins and Treasures Shop.

The last one in our inventory sold this weekend,

so it was time to make some more.

Valentines Day is just around the corner.

Hubby cuts them and sands them till smooth.

I’m up next, I paint them and edge them.

Hubby applies the stain to make them look aged.

Once dry, I will add the wire hanger and homespun tie.

It’s teamwork at its finest!

Local Friends,

Message me if you want one.

(We can bypass the whole Etsy process)

I have a standing date every Wednesday.

Lorie and I have been going out for coffee

once a week for 40 years.

Now that we are both retired,

we can go in the morning.

We get our coffee and cup holders at Starbucks,

and then we follow our usual route around Target.

Sometimes we have a list...

Sometimes we just check out all the Clearance Endcaps.

But we always walk away from the store

with everything we need.

Take care,

~Natalie